Presence of oral mucosal lesions associated with tobacco use – among the patients visiting OPD: A prevalence study, at the oxford dental college Bangalore

Abstract

Background: Use of tobacco in any form smoke or smokeless has been implicated with the development of oral mucosal lesions like Leukoplakia (LE), lichen planus (LP), oral lichenoid lesions (OLL), oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), smokers palate (SP) and smokers melanosis (SM).Aim: To assess the presence of oral mucosal lesions associated with the use of tobacco.Material and Methods: In this prevalence study 216 patients (200 males and 16 females) with habit of smoking, chewing tobacco in any form and smokeless tobacco users were enrolled and evaluated based on thorough history and soft tissue examination. Patients not willing to participate,those with infections, local trauma /irritation or systemic diseases that causes oral mucosal lesions and alcoholics were excluded. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical package for social sciences [SPSS] for Windows, Version 22.0.Released in 2013. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.Result: Among the 216 participants, 200 (92.6%) were males and 16 (7.4%) were females; with the mean age of 46.03 years. The prevalence of smoking tobacco use was 60.6% and smokeless 39.4%.The most common finding was smoker’s palate (34.7%), tobacco pouch keratosis (25.5%), homogenous leukoplakia (20.8%) and smokers melanosis (14.4%).Conclusion: The study emphasizes the association of harmful effects of tobacco (smoke and smokeless forms) with the development of oral mucosal lesions.